@Eric Schlunz Not to mention that two days ago Rosenbloom was predicting that Anthony would only use the Bulls for leverage, just like James did 4 years ago. If being used is what is know and predicted to be the end result, why would anyone reach out? Then we can wait for the inevitable...

As our K.C. Johnson wrote, the Heat could sign James to a five-year, $115 million deal. The best that any other team could do is four years and $86 million.

The smaller figure would be enough for most humans, and it wouldn’t be the point. Getting the most out of the Heat doesn’t appear to be the motivation. Winning more titles does.

Since James took his talents to South Beach four years ago, the Heat have gone to every NBA Finals, winning two. Their bid for a three-peat this year, however, became basketball apocalypse. The Spurs destroyed the Heat in every possible way. The Spurs exposed the Heat, in fact. James was stuck carrying a new version of the wonky Cavaliers roster he dragged to the finals eight years ago.

James came out of that series dumbstruck. He opted out and can go anywhere, even the Bulls. Let’s say Rose has a good number for James. What would he tell the franchise-changer?

Would he tell James he’s healthy? Of course he would. But why would James believe that and why would he believe Rose would stay that way?

The only thing Rose has over rickety Dwyane Wade is youth, but otherwise, they’re the same lame players with so many questions about what kind of basketball they can play going forward.

Rose has played 49 games the last three seasons. He has undergone some kind of surgery on each knee. His team has said it cannot build around him, but has to build with him, a concession that he’s just a piece.

So, why would THE piece think Rose is different from Wade -- different enough to think they could’ve beaten the Spurs?

Moving on, would Rose tell James he could win a title by coming to the Bulls? Of course he would. But why would James agree with him when it ought to look painfully familiar to him?

I mean, would Rose convince James that Joakim Noah completes a significantly better “Big Three’’ than Chris Bosh?

Good luck with that. Does anybody believe James thinks Noah deserved the Defensive Player of the Year Award over him? James can guard any position on the floor; Noah couldn’t guard any big man on Washington.

Truth is, Noah can’t guard any legitimate big man, whatever their dwindling number in the NBA, and isn’t James already playing for a team that can’t handle quality size?

There’s no need to list anyone else on the roster because there wouldn’t be money for anyone else who’s good, and there’s another issue that would remind James of the Heat.

See? This would look familiar to James. This would look like the trouble he might be forcing the Heat to fix by opting out.

But even if his exit is more than a dare, why would he join the same kind of roster, only with horrific weather and no championship experience?

The upcoming NFL draft is going to offer strong options at the running back position through at least the middle rounds but that isn’t stopping the Chicago Bears from adding some depth at the position.

This supposedly was the season of the Blah Big Ten. But with the conference making up 50 percent of the Final Four, the Big Ten office would be quite justified in sending out a one-word press release: "Ha!"